And low to middle income earning countries will be hit harder by the rise in fatalities.

The joint report between the WHO and U.S. National Cancer Institute said around 80 per cent of smokers live in such countries, and although smoking prevalence was falling among the global population, the total number of smokers worldwide is rising.

There are more than 4,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke, of which at least 250 are known to be harmful and more than 50 are known to cause cancer.

It is linked to a range of diseases including heart disease, heart attack, stroke, bronchitis and emphysema, pneumonia and cancers in the mouth, lips, throat, larynx, oesophagus, bladder, kidney, liver, stomach and pancreas.

A trade dispute was brought forward by Cuba, Indonesia, Honduras and Dominican Republic against the laws.

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The World Health Organisation is calling for governments to do more to prevent smoking

The World Trade Organization is expected to rule on the complaint this year.

Meanwhile, Australia's policy is being closely watched by other countries that are considering similar policies, including Norway, Slovenia, Canada, Singapore, Belgium and South Africa.

Only one in three countries, representing a third of the world's population, monitors tobacco use by repeating nationally representative youth and adult surveys at least once every five years, according to the WHO.